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==Family background and early years==

==Family background and early years==

Prior to 1900, Upham's grandfather, David A. Upham, came to Texas from [[Pennsylvania]] to work on a drilling rig at a time when there were only three such structures in the world. David Upham soon owned and operated what became the fifth rig in existence. Upham Oil and Gas originated in 1914, when David Upham heard about the emerging field in Ranger, located between [[Fort Worth]] and [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]], Texas. In 1917, the senior Upham drilled his first natural gas well in Palo Pinto County. A few years later, David Upham's son, Chester R. Upham, Sr., came to Mineral Wells, and the two men purchased the Consumer's Gas and Fuel Company, a natural gas operation. In 1925, the company extended service to rural communities within Palo Pinto County. In 1926, the company was renamed the Brazos River Gas Company, which served fifteen communities. In 1950, the name was again changed to Upham Gas Company.<ref name=oilgas>{{cite web|url=http://www.uphamoilandgas.com/AboutUs.htm|title=Upham Oil and Gas Company, LC|publisher=uphamoilandgas.com|accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref>

Prior to 1900, Upham's grandfather, David A. Upham, came to Texas from [[Pennsylvania]] to work on a drilling rig at a time when there were only three such structures in the world. David Upham soon owned and operated what became the fifth rig in existence. Upham Oil and Gas originated in 1914, when David Upham heard about the emerging field in Ranger, located between [[Fort Worth]] and [[Abilene]], Texas. In 1917, the senior Upham drilled his first natural gas well in Palo Pinto County. A few years later, David Upham's son, Chester R. Upham, Sr., came to Mineral Wells, and the two men purchased the Consumer's Gas and Fuel Company, a natural gas operation. In 1925, the company extended service to rural communities within Palo Pinto County. In 1926, the company was renamed the Brazos River Gas Company, which served fifteen communities. In 1950, the name was again changed to Upham Gas Company.<ref name=oilgas>{{cite web|url=http://www.uphamoilandgas.com/AboutUs.htm|title=Upham Oil and Gas Company, LC|publisher=uphamoilandgas.com|accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref>

Chet Upham was born in Mineral Wells but moved with his parents, Chester and Ida Irene Upham, to southern [[California]]. He spent his teenage years in Beverly Hills and graduated from University High School in [[Los Angeles]], where as a youth he met numerous [[actor]]s.<ref name=vitae>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/former_regents/regents/Upham/cv.htm|title=Chester R. Upham, Jr.: Curriculum vitae|publisher=utsystem.edu|accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref> Before he returned to Mineral Wells to launch the new oil and gas company, Upham, Sr., had operated a neon sign business in California, when such operations were novel. Upham, Jr., attended one semester at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] before he dropped out to join the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Commissioned an ensign, he served from 1943 to 1946,<ref name=vitae/> with eight months at sea, having been released thereafter to the United States Naval Reserve.<ref name=upham/> His graduated in 1945 from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], at which he procured his Bachelor of Science in [[mechanical engineering]] after three and one-half years. He was a member of the swimming team and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.<ref name=vitae/>

Chet Upham was born in Mineral Wells but moved with his parents, Chester and Ida Irene Upham, to southern [[California]]. He spent his teenage years in Beverly Hills and graduated from University High School in [[Los Angeles]], where as a youth he met numerous [[actor]]s.<ref name=vitae>{{cite web|url=http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/former_regents/regents/Upham/cv.htm|title=Chester R. Upham, Jr.: Curriculum vitae|publisher=utsystem.edu|accessdate=January 30, 2010}}</ref> Before he returned to Mineral Wells to launch the new oil and gas company, Upham, Sr., had operated a neon sign business in California, when such operations were novel. Upham, Jr., attended one semester at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] before he dropped out to join the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. Commissioned an ensign, he served from 1943 to 1946,<ref name=vitae/> with eight months at sea, having been released thereafter to the United States Naval Reserve.<ref name=upham/> His graduated in 1945 from the [[University of Texas at Austin]], at which he procured his Bachelor of Science in [[mechanical engineering]] after three and one-half years. He was a member of the swimming team and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.<ref name=vitae/>